AMP Continues to #StandWithIlhan Following House Resolution Vote

(WASHINGTON, D.C. 03/07/2019)—American Muslims for Palestine joins a broad coalition of Jewish, Muslim and progressive grassroots organizations in welcoming the resolution introduced by House Democratic leadership that condemns all forms of bigotry. The language of the resolution was originally intended to rebuke Representative Ilhan Omar and shut down efforts to advocate for Palestinian human rights. But following immense pressure from coalition partners the language was broadened and no longer singled out Rep. Omar for her valid criticism.

Coalition partners generated a flood of phone calls, emails, held a press conference and delivered a letter calling on the Democratic leadership to condemn real bigotry and drop the politically-motivated and bad-faith attacks on Rep. Omar.

“While some in Washington attempted to take Rep. Ilhan Omar’s valid criticism out of context and attribute malicious intent to her words, the debate over the resolution—and fierce pushback particularly among progressives—shows that there is a critical mass of Democrats and other citizens who are no longer beholden to the dominant narrative on Israel and Palestine” said Osama Abuirshaid, Executive Director of American Muslims for Palestine. 

 “We are a movement that unequivocally rejects anti-semitism, Islamophobia, anti-Black racism and all forms of bigotry and expect the same from Democratic leadership. It’s a new day where we no longer will accept attacks on our free speech and stifling of necessary debate on Israeli government policies against Palestinians. Let’s get back to work against the rise of white nationalism that threatens all of our communities and build a government and policies that respects every resident of this nation,” said Linda Sarsour, Executive Director of MPower Change and National Organizer with the Women’s March.
 
The coalition of organizations support and echo statements made by many other members of congress, such as Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, who said yesterday: “I always have and always will stand in opposition to any and all forms of hatred and discrimination, including white supremacy, racism, transphobia, ableism, sexism, homophobia, anti-Semitism, islamophobia and xenophobia– there is no hierarchy of hurt.” Indeed, we celebrate this new political moment where there is not a hierarchy of hurt and all forms of bigotry are equally condemned.

##